Garcia Ultra-cast 5600

[Matt Collins]

I found out recently that this reel was being dicontinued for 2002. I have a couple and like them. Does anyone know why they are discontinuing them? Does anyone know of a place that still carries them?

[HerbB]

I hate it too when good reels are discontinued. I have a 6500 Ultra-Cast and I suspect the overall sales are just lower than they expected. They discontinued the CI several years ago, which is the best reel I've ever owned and similar to the Ultra-Cast, for the same reason.

I think you might get a few from Cabela's. You might want to try give them a call at (800)237-4444 and ask them to see if they still have any in stock.

Good luck,

Herb

[Rob Myers - St. Croix Rods]

Herb,
I've got a 5600CI and a 6500CI that I'm willing to part with. Let me know if you're interested.
Rob

[HerbB]

Rob,

I'd definitely be interested. Please email me and lets talk about it. And then I'd have a good excuse to buy a couple more new rods too.:)

Herb

[Rob Myers - St. Croix Rods]

Herb,
Can't log in to get your email address. Mine is robm@stcroixrods.com Email me and we can discuss it.
Rob

[bigjohn58]

I love my Abu Garcia Ultra-cast 5600. I am not sure why they are discontinuing them but it might be because if I had my choice now I'd be getting the C4 5600 instead. For the price and the option of left hand retrieve you can't beat them.

Later,

John

[HerbB]

I talked to an ABU rep a couple years ago at the MN Sports Show and he said the problem they had with the CI was it didn't sell all that well. It seems there is a natural competion against the C3 and C4 because those reels are good too and cost a lot less. Is it worth another $40 for a UC over a C3? I'm not sure and I have both.

[Esox Masq]

I was told that the reason they discontinued the Ultra Cast line is that it was replaced by the Eons. I do have a couple of Eons, and had the same problem with both of them, about 10% of the time the levelwind would go to one side and stay there. Abu is modifying these reels for free to make the levelwind not free float when casting. As far as the basic performance of Eons, I like them because they are smooth as silk (6 ball bearings) and they cast better than ultracasts. I also like the higher gear ratio for burning bucktails. The drag is as smooth as any casting reel I have ever seen at any price.

[Jason Schillinger]

UC's have been my(and my boat partners) mainstay reel for the past three years. I simply love these reels. It dissapoints me to see companies discontinue proven products in place of experimentation. I put alot of hours on my UC 5600's(1200 a piece on a couple), with nothing more than levelwind pauls, and worm gears failing(usual maintenance). I would like to find a few more of these before they all dissapear.

[musky54]

Recently helped a customer find one. Talk to Gary at Bass Pro in Gurnee, found that a few of the stores still have some 5600uc's available. Hope this helps...

[solarfisher00]

Cabelas in East Grand Forks, MN has a couple UC 5600's and UC 6500's left. They are clearenced for $75 for the 5600 and $80 for the 6500. There is also a 15% rebate from Abu Garcia if you use a VISA card to buy it. I beleive there is a $15 rebate from Abu Garcia on the C3 and C4 reels too.

[HerbB]

My favorite reel for a long time was a 6500CI and then I picked up a 6500UC this year and they seem very similar.

ABU has that new Muskie special reel with the power handle on it. I think its called a TCM. Does anyone know if that is similar to the Ultra-Cast?

[reelman]

Herb, Your 6500Ci is exactly the same as a 6500C3 other than color. I have a couple Ci's that I like since I like the black over silver.
The Ultra Cast 6500C has a completely different spool design, I prefer thae style on the C3. The Musky reel you speak of is basically a 6500C4 whick is the same as the C3 except that it has a 6.3 gear ratio and an extra bearing in the level wind. It also comes with a larger single power handle.

[yeti]

Herb the 6500tcm is basicly a c4 but with c3 gearing and it comes with both the power handle and a regular one, besides its got a really cool engraved musky on the side. I have 2 of them and asked santa for a 3rd.

[HerbB]

Thanks for the info. For me, the CIs just feel much smoother and cast better than any of the C3s, at least comparing the reels I have. I take it the new C3s are modeled after the CI? I believe the CI was the first instant anti-reverse reel ABU made. But they all work pretty good and stand up very well so I'm not complaining. That new TCM reel sure sounds like a good one too.